Multi-year calendar



July 8, 1958 H. R. RYAN MULTI-YEAR CALENDAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 12, 1955 YEARSIN RED I 44 I945 I946 I948 I949 I950 I952 I9 -LEAP- I94I I942 I943 z i a IN V EN TOR. #51. EA A K74 A/ Arrow/vex.

United States Patent MULTI-YEAR CALENDAR Helen R. Ryan, New York, N. Y.

Application May 12, 1955, Serial No. 507,911 8 Claims. (Cl. 40--117) This invention relates to calendars, and more especially it relates to so-called perpetual calendars.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a novel compact device for determining expeditiously the particular day of the week upon which any given date, past, present, or future, falls.

A feature of the invention relates to a simple perpetual calendar device for desk use and the like, whereby the day of the week of any given date can be expeditiously determined while providing a complete daily calendar for the particular year and month in which the said date falls.

Another feature relates to a perpetual calendar employing a pair of manually rotatable drums one of which is used to select the finder or key number of any given year, and the other of which can be operated to display in front of the viewing window either the entire monthly calendar or the entire yearly calendar for the year in which the desired date falls.

Other features and advantages not specifically enumerated will appear from the ensuing descriptions, the attached claims, and the appended drawing.

In the drawing, which shows by way of example, certain preferred embodiments,

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a calendar device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front face view of part of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a portionof one of the finder or key number charts of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a portion of the yearly calendar chart of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a developed chart showing the manner of extrapolating the yearly chart of Fig. 3.

Heretofore so-called perpetual calendars have usually been in the form of a book like arrangement of pages requiring a relatively time-consuming operation of checking back and forth between a so-called key page and the various pages to be keyed therewith. This conventional method of determining the particular day of the week upon which any given date occurs is time-consuming and may give rise to inaccuracies of location of the desired date on the chart. I have devised a perpetual calendar which is compact and employs a pair of co-related charts, one of which is a keyed or finder number chart, and the other of which is a daily calendar chart whereby, as a result of simple manual manipulation of two knobs or the like, the particular month and year in which any desired given date falls can be directly displayed through a suitable viewing window.

Referring to Fig. l, the device of the preferred embodiment comprises a casing consisting of a base member and a box-like cover member 11 which is removably attached in any convenient manner to the base. Mounted within the casing, preferably on the base 10 and in any suitable bearing brackets (not shown) is a drum 12 which carries a series of numbered years arranged in columns in predetermined sequence, as will be described hereinbelow. Merelyfor purposes of explanation, drum 12 is shown as covering a period of years from the year 194-0 to year 2000, but it will be understood that it can be provided with corresponding columnar years arranged to cover a longer or shorter time period. The shaft 13,

which carries drum 12, extends through the end wall of member 11 and is provided with a knob 14 for turning the drum to any desired rotary position. If desired, the.

is a suitable pointer 16, which for example may be mounted for sliding movement in a narrow slit 17 in member 11 extending parallel to window 15. Attached to or printed directly on the front face of member 11 adjacent the window 15 are a series of finder or yearly key digits numbered l-14.

Mounted for rotation, preferably although not necessarily at right angles to drum 12, are a pair of rollers or drums 18, 19, around which is arranged to be reeled and unreeled in either direction a continuous chart 20 which bears the individual months and days for each complete key year, each such year corresponding to one of the key numbers l14 cooperating with pointer 16.

For conserving the length of the device preferably each key year of calendar dates on chart 20 is arranged in two horizontal rows. For example, and as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the year having the key or finder number 1 is shown in full with the months January-June arranged in one row, and the months July-December arranged in another row. Portions of the yearly calendar dates for the key numbers 2, 7, l0 and 14 are also shown, it being understood that each of the .key yearly calendars 1 to 14 is complete in itself. Adjacent each yearly set of dates is its corresponding finder number, preferably located centrally of the associated yearly calendar, so that each key number is visible through a small window 21. Likewise, the front wall of member 11 has a pair of elongated windows 22, 23, each in registry with its respective one of the two rows of calendar dates on chart 20. In order to move the chart 20 longitudinally, either or both of the drums 18, 19, may be provided with an externally located knob 24 so as to bring a complete yearly calendar in registry with the windows 22, 23, this registry being accurate when the corresponding key number appears in front of the window 21. As shown in the enlarged view of Fig. 2, the front wall of member 11 is provided with parallel slits 25, 26, 27 in which are slidably mounted a pair of independently movable framing members 28, 29.

Each of these members has a window 30, 31 which is of substantially the same size as each of the corresponding calendar months on the chart 20.

The manner of using the device of Figs. 1 and 2 to determine, for example, the particular day of the week on which any given date falls, is as follows. Let it be assumed that it is desired to find on what day of the week February 15, 1940, occurred. turned to bring in alignment with window 15 the particular row of yearly indicia in which the year 1940 occurs.

Then the pointer 16 is moved into registry with the year 1940, indicating that the key number for that year is 1. The knob 24 is then turned until the key number 1 on chart 20 appears in front of window 21. Then the slider 28 is moved to frame the month of February, as indicated in Fig. 2. An examination of this month will show that February 15, 1940, occurred on a Thursday. Preferably the leap years are indicated on the chart in distinctive 1 display as compared with the non-leap years. For exj ample, they may be printed in red or heavier type.

It will be clear, of course, that the invention can be The knob 14 is first aaeneoo used also to determine the date on which a certain weekly day in any given month occurred. For example, if it were desiredto find the date of the second Monday of February 1940, the same procedure would be followed as above described, and an examination of the February month in the key year 1 on the chart will show that the second Monday in February 1940 was dated February 12.

, It will be understood, of course, that the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 can be used as a conventional current year calendar. For example, the current year being 1 955, the knob 14 would be turned until the roll of yearly datesshows up the year 1955 in window 15. As will appear from the portion of the chart shown, in Fig. 3, the key-number would be 9. The knob 24 is then turned to bring this key number in registry with Window 21 which, therefore, presents a complete yearly calendar for the current year before the windows 22, 23.

An examination of the chart of Figs. 3 and 5 will show that the succession of the yearly dates for the respective key numbered follow a certain diagonal law so that the chart can be extrapolated to cover any extended period merely by adding dates in the various columns so that the interval between diagonal dates is 12. Likewise the dates for each vertical column follow a periodic arrangement for the common or non-leap years. The periods or intervals between successive dates in each column follow the interval law'6, 11, 11, 6, 11, 11, 6, 11, etc. By these two laws it is possible therefore to construct a chart covering any desired period of time, it being understood that the leap years are arranged in separate columns as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 with intervals of 28 years between each successive pair of leap years in each vertical column.

It will be understood, of course, that the charts of Figs. 3 and 4 can be printed as separate sheets of paper, plastic, or the like, and suitably wrapped and fastened around the respective drums.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to the use of numbers as the keying indicia for the various calendar years. For example, while in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 the numerals 1 to 14 are employed for that purpose, they can be replaced by the letters A to N. It is understood, therefore, that the expression keying numbers as used in the columns is intended to cover both numbers and letters, or similar keying indicia.

What is claimed is:

1. In a calendar, 2. first chart having a series of fourteen complete yearly calendars all arranged in a single linear array and each yearly calendar having associated therewith a corresponding one of fourteen individual key indicia, a second chart having a series of yearly dates arranged in fourteen columns with all yearly dates having the same key indicia located in the same column and with the yearly dates in adjacent columns in parallel rows, first stationary window means adjacent the first chart to display only one of said key indicia and the corresponding complete yearly calendar at a time, second window means adjacent the second chart of a size to display only one of said parallel rows at a time, a stationary index adjacent the second window means having said fourteen key indicia respectively each in alignment with a corresponding one of said fourteen columns, means movably supporting said second chart to bring a chosen yearly date into view through said second window, means to determine the year-identifying indicia in said stationary index which is in alignment with said chosen yearly date, and means movably supporting said first chart to bring into view through said first window means the said determined year identifying key indicia and also the ,correspondingfull yearly calendar.

2. In a calendar, stationary indicator means carrying 4 a series of calendar-identifying key indicia, a first chart having a series of columns of yearly dates with the dates in each column having allotted thereto a corresponding individual key indicia, means to move said first chart to determine the particular key indicia on said indicator for a selected year, a second chart having a series of complete but discrete full yearly calendars, all said series being arranged in a single linear array and each one of the series having associated therewith and movable therewith a corresponding one of said key indicia, and means to move said second chart to selectively display the particular key indicia determined by the said movement of the first chart so as to selectively display the said particular key indicia on the second chart and simultaneously to expose the corresponding full yearly calendar to view.

3. In a calendar, stationary indicator means carrying a series of yearly calendar-identifying key numbers, a first movable chart carrying a series of yearly dates arranged in columnar form with each column having an individual one of said key numbers allotted thereto, means to move said first chart to display a selected yearly date and for simultaneously determining its particular corresponding key number in said indicator means, a second movable chart carrying a series of discrete full yearly calendars, each yearly calendar having a corresponding one of said key numbers movable therewith, and means to move said second chart until there is displayed the same key number as is displayed by said movement of the first chart and thereby simultaneously displaying the full yearly calendar corresponding to said displayed key number.

4. In a calendar, a casing having a pair of viewing windows therein, a first chart supported for movement within said casing and having a series of yearly calendar dates arranged in plural columnar form, means to move said chart to bring a selected yearly date into viewing registry with one of said windows to identify a particular key indicia allotted thereto, there being one such key indicia for each of said columns, a second chart also supported for movement within said casing and having a plurality of series of complete but discrete full yearly calendars each such yearly calendar having a corresponding key indicia movable therewith, and means to move said second chart to bring into View the particular key indicia identified by the first chart and simultaneously to display through said'other window the complete yearly calendar associated with said particular key indicia.

5. In a calendar, a casing having a viewing face containing a first window and a second window, a series of year-identifying key indicia arranged along one margin of the first window, a first chart mounted within said casing, a second chart also mounted within said casing,

said first chart having a series of yearly dates arranged in plural columnar form each column being in alignment with a corresponding one of said key indicia, means to move the first chart to bring a desired yearly date into registry with the first window and into registry with its corresponding key indicia, said second chart having a plurality of discrete full yearly calendars, each yearly calendar having associated therewith and movable therewith a corresponding one of said key indicia, and means to move said second chart to display the said corresponding key indicia as determined by the said movement of the first chart, and thereby simultaneously exposing before said second window the complete yearly calendar containing a desired date to be ascertained.

6. In a calendar, a casing having a viewing face containing a narrow elongated window, a series of key indicia carried by said face and arranged along the length of said window, a first movable chart having a series of yearly dates arranged in rows and columns with all dates which have the same key indicia being arranged in the same column, means mounting said first chart for movement to bring each row of dates successively into alignment with said window to identify the key indicia for a particular year, a second window in said viewing face for displaying a complete yearly calendar, a second movable chart having a series of discrete but full yearly calendars each yearly calendar carrying an associated one of said key indicia movable therewith, and means to move said second chart to expose a particular key indicia as determined by the setting of the first chart and simultaneously to expose the corresponding complete full yearly calendar through said second window.

7. A calendar according to claim 6 in which the first chart has the yearly dates for leap years arranged in respective individual columns with a twenty-eight year interval between successive dates in each leap year column, and the non-leap year dates in the next adjacent column to each leap year column are arranged with the intervals between successive non-leap year dates in any given column following the law 6l 1-l1 and with the diagonally adjacent non-leap year dates in adjacent columns all spaced by the same interval 12.

8. In a calendar, a casing having a pair of viewing windows therein, a first chart supported for movement within said casing and having a series of yearly calendar dates arranged in plural columnar form, means to move said chart to bring a selected yearly date into viewing registry with one of said windows to identify a particular key indicia allotted thereto, there being one such key indicia for each of said columns, a second chart also supported for movement within said casing and having a plurality of series of complete but discrete full yearly calendars, each such yearly calendar having a corresponding key indicia movable therewith, and means to move said second chart to bring into view the particular key indicia identified by the first chart and simultaneously to display through said other window the complete yearly calendar associated with said particular key indicia, said yearly calendar dates being arranged on said first chart in a total of fourteen columns and said second window is commensurate in size with each full yearly calendar to expose for view the complete calendar for the year corresponding to said selected particular key indicia.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,042,337 Gorin Oct. 22, 1912 1,492,558 Elphinstone May 6, 1924 1,670,316 Schlusing May 22, 1928 1,783,302 Newton Apr. 17, 1929 1,940,859 Hansen Dec. 26, 1933 2,586,890 Voss Feb. 26, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 244,263 Great Britain c Dec. 17, 1925 

